Author: Mary Scherpe

It’s getting colder outside, and while most of us prepare for winter by consuming ginger tea and snapping pictures of the last rays of sunlight, for some people this upcoming time of the year is more than just a nuisance but a life threat. Stil in Berlin is all about the good things in life and our city, but we needn’t forget that many are not that lucky. So let’s start sharing:

In case of interior design, trends might not come and go as fast as in the fashion world, but they definitely run the business – So Parkhaus, the beautiful interior store in one of Mitte’s prettiest streets, is accepting the change of style as a perk.

You know this feeling, when the days get shorter, the temperatures sink and the rain gets heavier, and you’ve had a crazy day at work and feel that certain Berlin winter depression slowly lurking for you. And then you know what’s helping: a heart-warming Japanese noodle soup from Mitte’s best Ramen place: Cocolo. Just once you arrive you’ll realize, that you’ll have to get in line to get a seat. The tiny place at Gipsstraße 3 is usually crowded minutes after opening at 6pm and people line the street despite temperatures being well below zero. And then you worry how much your mood will drop while waiting and how many soups you’ll need to have to push it to a bearable level. But Berliners, fret no more! Cocolo Ramen opened a second location during the summer in Kreuzberg, which is not only remarkably bigger but also offers lunch. Winter is saved.

I kind of lost track on vintage shopping in Berlin, maybe because I am not interested in that certain synthetic sweater with stonewashed jeans in weird proportions look sported in certain streets of Neukölln (as I’ve heard). Maybe because I found my favorites (Das Neue Schwarz, Garments, Rianna) and have not been able to find good stuff at the newcomers and thus lost interest? Anyhow, somehow my treasure-seeking spirit revived last week and I payed a visit to a store I’ve been passing by on my bike about 2 million times and never stopped before this one day last week: Mankii.